The Division Nanomaterials investigates the fabrication, stabilization and application of nanoparticles and nanostructures. The nanoparticles are synthesized via “bottom-up” methods, with a focus on the nonaqueous synthesis in organic solvents.. Via this method, the preparation of small nanoparticles (2-20 nm in size) with narrow size distribution and high sample homogeneity is possible. Due to their high stability and manifold properties, we concentrate on the synthesis of metal oxides. Via a scale-up to liter-scale reactors and applying our broad expertise on nanoparticle process technology, also the preparation of larger quantities of nanoparticles (up to 50 g/batch) and the tailoring of particle properties are possible.
Stabilized metal oxide nanoparticles and their application in nanocomposites, luminescent dispersions and functional optical devices (from left to right).
In addition to the synthesis, the stabilization and functionalization of nanoparticles are crucial issues for applications and thus are investigated in detail. Due to their very large specific surface area (for 4 nm sized particles, already about 30 % of all atoms are located at the particle surface), nanoparticles tend to agglomerate, but can be stabilized by e. g. coverage with organic molecules. This also allows one to tailor many other properties, such as the chemical behavior, biological and catalytic acitivity, or optical properties, and achieve self-assembly to ordered superstructures.
Additionally, novel applications are developed utilizing chemically tailored nanoparticles. Our main interests thereby include the fields of optimized polymer nanocomposite materials and nanoparticulate and nanocomposite thin films as well as magnetic nanomaterials.
The Branch Nanomaterials is a core research group within the Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology and investigates the metrology of defined nanoparticles. The synthesis of materials for future battery systems is carried out within our Junior Research Group “Solid State Battery Materials and Electrodes” in cooperation with the Battery LabFactory Braunschweig (BLB).